"They did an excellent job. They were expensive, but you get what you pay for. The building inspector of the city said this was the best built garage he had ever inspected. I would highly recommend them and I would definitely hire them again."
"Jim and his team were great to work with. I needed a garage and a driveway but I was on a tight budget and had never done a construction project like this before. Garage Elements did a fantastic job helping me understand the options, what each item would cost so I could pick and choose what I wanted while staying on budget. Really appreciated the great communication throughout the project and Garage Elements commitment to insuring I was happy with the final product. Would highly recommend them!"
We specialize in new builds of many kinds, garages, pole barns, flooring of all kinds interior remodel. We have over 35 years of experience in the construction business. We are a smaller company but that’s why we can give you the cheaper price
We take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality, and customer service that we provide to meet the consumers' needs. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship, and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. In order to understand the needs, and expectations of our customers, we take great care to work, and communicate with every customer in a professional manner. Our reputation is based on service, safety, and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.
At Kilter Contracting LLC, we believe that successful projects are built on a foundation of precision and clear communication. As a small, specialized team, we offer a level of attentiveness that larger firms often overlook. From the initial frame to the final finish, we work closely with you to ensure your vision is realized on time and within budget. We don’t just build structures; we build lasting professional relationships through integrity and high-quality craftsmanship.
"I didn't expect to have to write this. Even waited a few weeks after the work was "completed" in order to live with the results a bit, but here goes. I had Kitchen and Bath Specialties (Joe Laverdiere ) come to my home to redo my bathroom. They were to replace the drywall, put in a tiled walk in shower where I once had a tub, etc. I assumed it would be a right hand drain since the tub had a right drain. Here are some issues I faced with this company. I came home from work to find they had cut out the concrete (house is on a slab) to put in a center drain instead. That's not the bad part. When he went to get the shower pan, they didn't have a center drain, so he ended up doing the right hand like he should have in the first place! I have no idea how they repaired the concrete under the pan, since that pan was put in while I was at work. The tiles in the shower have some even grouting, but in other places the grout is uneven as the tiles weren't cut quite right. He told me the sanded grout did not need to be sealed, but all articles I have read recommend sealing, so I have done that since they left. The air conditioning/heating vent on the wall is white. It had white screws in it. They took it down to work, and when they put it back up, they used black screws. I have no idea where the white ones went. Not only that, but they put it back up and tried to paint around it, so I had to clean grey paint off the white vent and I had to go buy white screws to put it back properly. I showed him one day where I wanted the grab bar to be placed. He even put some pieces of tape on the wall to remind him where to put it. Guess what? Next day I get home and it's not placed correctly. Of course now there are holes in the tiles, so to redo it would mean replacing the tiles too, so I let it go. Even though it was new drywall, they did not paint behind the vanity. Nor did they paint behind the stool, except for the wall showing below the tank. Since the vanity and stool had to be removed to replace the drywall, the new drywall should have been painted. There was also paint all over the toilet tank lid. I pointed out where the drywall joints were not smooth in a number of places. Joe said once I hung towels on the towel bar that would not be noticeable and that the joint where the wall and ceiling meet over the sink was noticeable because of the type of paint I chose (eggshell) and because the light fixture was facing upward. I told him if it was done correctly there would be nothing to hide or notice. They did work on those two spots, but other places are not smooth. They broke both light bulbs in the fixture but failed to mention it to me. I went to replace them because one bulb burnt out and nearly cut my hand in the process. Now let's talk about cleaning up after themselves. My front and back door had lots of hand prints on them. Ever hear of a door knob? There were spots of some white substance on the concrete on the patio they never cleaned up, but they said it would wash away when it rained. We've had a couple of good rains since and they are still there. There are bits of some adhesive on my carpet that I can't get out. I may have to "trim" it. I asked him to paint the inside of the bathroom door the same color as the trim, a very light grey. Nope. I think all he put on there was white primer. One day I was out mowing the yard when Joe left. I went inside when I was finished mowing and found the bathroom light on, the bedroom light on, the hallway light on and even though the air conditioning was on, the front door was standing open. Another day I noticed the side door to the garage was on so I went out to close it. Not only was the door open but the light in the garage was on too. Walking back to the house I see the outside spigot is dripping water. Seriously? So to sum up, the drywall job was not finished smoothly in all the joints. The painting is not even in some places. They did not wipe down all the dust from sanding before beginning to paint, so I will have to redo. I had to seal the grout and clean the tiles and the tile spacing is uneven. It really sucked the joy out of having the room redone."
"David gave me what I thought was a fair price for the work to be done. He asked for 1/2 up front. As a previous small business owner I did not feel this was unreasonable so I paid him 500.00. He estimated the work would take 3 to four days and I thought the same. After several no shows the "mason" showed up. The first clue was he came in a car. According to my wife he was here 2 hours and left, came back for another 2 hours the next day and left again. He said nothing to my wife about leaving or when he would be back. David called a day later to ask about coming out to look over the job and get the rest of the other 500.00. I said he isn't finished and he's only been here 4 hours. So then I looked up the prevailing wage in IL for a mason and found out it is 28.50 an hour. The next day the guy comes back for another 3 hours. David came to look at the work and I walked him around and showed him all of the places that had not been done. So the guy comes back again for about an hour. All told it was 8 hours work, nothing to write home about but it was agreed up front that I wasn't looking for an exposed brick look. I need it tuck pointed well enough so that I could drylock and paint the exposed brick. I will say this was done in the end. The worker left a mess that I and my wife had to clean up, I pointed this out to David as well. I told him I felt he was overly paid for the amount of work preformed and that was the end of it. It's really to bad. It's difficult to get contractors to do small jobs and I had plenty for him to do. I'm not unhappy, just would not hire again"
"Wenz Builders completed the work for me so I could leave for another State on time. In spite of the weather, and even worked a Saturday to complete the project on time. Great workmanship, honest billing. Would recommend Wenz Builders."
"Overall, it went well. The project took about 7 weeks. John, the contractor explained that he would provide me with an estimate of the material needed and I was to pay the supplier and he would arrange for the delivery of the material. In this case Home Depot priced the material and I paid Home Depot and received a detailed receipt. This system worked just fine for me. Deliveries were on time. JMJ Builders staff was always on time (Most of the time they were parked before 8am and came to the door at 8am.) They were personable and very polite. An important point is that John would virtually every evening after work would inform me of the progress, any problems and the plan for the next days. I did not have a detailed blueprint, but described what I wanted and he would communicate with me to ensure we were still on track. The job was completed by Nov 12 except for a few minor details which he returned to complete by Dec 1.I would not hesitate to refer John to potential customers. I certainly plan to call him next year I may need to do some additional work on the first floor. By the way not only was the staff prompt but they seemed to always be working. John was not at the project every day all day, but he did come by and spent time virtually every day. His staff seemed to be very competent. "
The difference between vinyl and rubber garage door bottom seals comes down to cost, flexibility, and climate. Vinyl is the budget-friendly option, lasting well in moderate climates and resisting wear and tear. In colder climates, it can get stiff and make installation more difficult. Alternatively, rubber offers more flexibility, even in freezing temperatures, and better sticks to uneven surfaces. Rubber is more expensive but tends to be more adaptable.
For a garage to be included in a home's official square footage, it must qualify as livable space. This generally means it needs to be attached to the home and have permanent finishings like proper insulation, finished walls and ceilings, and adequate ventilation. To be considered livable year-round, it should also have heating and cooling. The specific legal requirements can vary by location, but if a garage is converted into a finished room meeting these criteria, it may be counted toward the total square footage.
The average cost to install a new garage door is around $1,224, with most homeowners paying between $755 and $1,696. However, the total price can range from $250 to as high as $4,500 depending on several factors. Key cost drivers include the door's size, type, style, and material. For instance, wood or wood composite doors are typically more expensive than vinyl or aluminum options. Insulation also affects the price. Labor costs are often bundled into the total price, but if billed separately, can range from $200 to $500. Due to the complexity and danger, professional installation is recommended.
You should lube your garage door components every three to six months depending on how frequently you open and close the door. Lubricant helps keep garage door components operating smoothly for longer; you can expect a much longer lifespan out of a garage door when you properly care for it, including frequent lubrication. Regular maintenance is much more affordable than the cost of replacing a garage door prematurely.
You do not need to drywall over most types of garage insulation. However, doing so can increase noise reduction, make the space more attractive, and keep children and pets from touching harmful fiberglass insulation. If you’re using cellulose or some other type of blown-in insulation (fiberglass and mineral wool are common), you will need drywall to contain the insulation material.
The Delavan, IL homeowners’ guide to garage services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Want to add value and living space to your home? Use this guide to figure out the cost to convert your garage into living space to see if it’s worth it.
For most homeowners, a garage needs to be big enough for more than parking a car. Use this guide to figure out the average garage size and how to build from there.